Vision Online, Now Focus

The exciting tale of a Merb Application and branding

2008-03-11

I have spent my free time, nights and weekends, working to create a new version of Vision, online. For those that do not know, Vision is the peerless, just-in-time, inventory control and point of sale system for the retail liquor market.

The project was originally titled Vision Online. That name is simple and it works with all of the branding that ICS has already done. However, this product heads out on its own and addresses a slightly new market. As such, a new name was a must.

Thanks to a stroke of genius by my associate Chris, we've switched to the name Focus. The name is brilliant for three, important, reasons. First, the original product is named Vision and Focus is just that, a focusing of the features and benefits of using Vision. Second, the use of this product is intended to focus the users' inventory until it is as close as possible to just-in-time. Lastly, a function of a person's literal vision is the ability to focus. We are hoping that this reincarnation of Vision will enable a user to focus on getting their inventory in line and online.

Solidifying this branding was important for me, as a developer, because it provides a northern star, a guiding light, to my goal. The meaning that branding holds for a user is realized many times over, for me. It is an important aspect of development, keeping the goals, ideals, and vision of the product, in mind.